Irrigon is one of the earliest twentieth
century towns of Morrow county on the Columbia River. In 1902 the Oregon
Land and Water Company put on an extensive advertising campaign for the purpose
of selling land at $100 per acre with a water right. However, at this time
neither the canal or the dam had been constructed. This proposed canal was
to supply water for land from the Umatilla River, west to the district around a
railroad siding on the O.R. & N. Railroad. This junction was known as
Stokes Siding. The town built here was known as Stokes until about 1905,
when the name of Irrigon was originated by taking the first four letters of
irrigation and the last three of Oregon.

Settlers began coming in by 1903. A
general mercantile store was established and a two story building built for the
purpose by Egbert and Corey.

There was, in 1904, a very small company
ditch owned by the Oregon Land and Water Company with water rights covering 100
acres. One of the first settlers on this project was George M. Rand,
who came from Kansas to settle on 10 acres, which he planted to fruit.

When there was need of school, accommodations
were made in the living room of a local family. Addison Bennett was
hired as postmaster, and he soon started a weekly newspaper in one end of the
post office building. This paper was known as the Irrigon Irrigator, and
was not in existence for too long a time. The O.R. & N. Railroad built
a depot and established telegraph service.

The advertising boom was paying off!
Land was improved into farms. With the coming of many settlers, small
businesses sprang up in Irrigon. The dam was built on the Umatilla River, about
three miles south of the old land mark - the city of Umatilla. When the
canal was being constructed, settlers could get employment on the job for $2.50
for a 10 hour day. It took a day's time to go to Hermiston with a team - a
distance of 16 miles. During this time a ferry was established across the
Columbia River at the docks in Irrigon. At one time there was also a boat
freight service and passenger service, by stern wheelers, between Portland and
Lewiston, Idaho.

There was a company blacksmith shop, a new
general merchandise store with a dance hall above, a barber shop, hardware
store, a hotel, a furniture store, and a feed store all erected in 1904 and
1905. Sam Carson built a livery stable and operated the city dray.
Dr. Beck and his wife, also a doctor, came to Irrigon and built a
drugstore. A three room school was built and served the district until
1921 when it burned. Page's Pool Hall and Confectionary were erected in
1907. Other businesses in the community were: Semen's Complete Food
Store, Hinkle's Store, Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company, Pierce's Lumber Yard, Leight's
Motel, Clyde Grimm's Tavern.

Then came the panic of 1907.
The Oregon Land and Water company was in the hands of a receiver - they were
bankrupt. The settlers then sold for what they could get or just left the
country, until there were only about 50 left in the community. In 1912 the
government became interested in the district and Senator Lane was sent to
investigate to see if it would be desirable to build a dam and concrete
canal. He was favorably impressed by the melons, fruit and grapes grown
here that in 1915, the High Ditch, as it was known, was constructed. This
took in a lot more acreage than the old company ditch. It was extended on
past the railroad siding of Coyote, 12 miles west of Irrigon, and Boardman was
established there. In 1926 the West Extention of the Umatilla Reclamation
project was organized with the water office in Irrigon. There were three
directors, A.C. Houghton was the first manager and held that position until his
death, twenty five years later.

Because there were no improved roads, all
the produce was shipped by local express. Many a time the local train was
stopped for more than an hour loading crated melons, fruit and cream. The
Union Pacific Railroad discontinued its service through Irrigon in 1950 and the
rails were removed a year or so later. A black-top highway, telephone and electricity
eventually came to the community. In 1920 a new concrete school building
was constructed. In 1952 the new A.C.Houghon Grade school was built.

The population of the Irrigon District in
1959 was 500. The city is incorporated and has the Baptist church, the
Adventist and the Assembly of God churches.